Description

The Forensic Science major provides a solid foundation in the biology and chemistry necessary for many forensic investigations, with applications relevant to crime laboratories. Students learn how science informs criminal investigations through courses in forensic science and criminal justice. Laboratory coursework gives students hands-on experience with instrumentation essential for analyzing body tissue and fluid samples, including DNA fingerprinting, and detecting chemicals for material evidence, including controlled substance determination. The major is intended for future crime lab employees, such as DNA analysts, forensic scientist/specialists, and criminalists (firearms/serology/toxicology) as well as for those students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in Forensic Science fields.

Major Requirements

Required Courses (67 credits)

All of the following:

BIOL 111 General Biology IPresents a comprehensive base in biology, intended for majors, and is the first of a two-course sequence. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 151 General Biology I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 102 (It is strongly suggested that MATH 123 is taken as a co-requisite if it has not already been taken)
FLC Area IV
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and Inquiry

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

BIOL 112 General Biology IIPresents a comprehensive base in biology for majors and non-science majors and is the second of a two-semester sequence. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 152 General Biology II.
4 credits
Prerequisite: "C" or higher in BIOL 111
FLC Area IV
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

BIOL 220 Introductory Forensic ScienceThis course consists of 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week. This course would serve as an elective for biology, chemistry, and criminal justice majors.

Through reading, writing, discussions, and case-studies, students will explore scientific principles of Forensic Science and methods of investigation . Students will be introduced to the many specialties within forensic science and methods for collecting and recording evidence at a crime scenes. Scientific principles based in chemistry and biology will be incorporated into discussions of techniques used for analyzing crime scene evidence. Students will be introduced to technologies for analyzing crime scene evidence such as separating and identifying compounds, microscopy, fingerprinting, document analysis, pathology, anthropology, odontology, entomology, serology, DNA analysis, toxicology, and soil and fiber analysis. Students will also explore ethical and legal considerations in forensic science. The laboratory component of the course will give students hands on-experience using scientific technologies to analyze data and solve problems.
4 credits
Prerequisites: Introductory Chemistry or Biology course such as BIOL 111, Chem 111, BIOL 101, or Chem 101, or an equivalent introductory science course with permission by instructor

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

BIOL 241 Introductory GeneticsInvestigates the principles of heredity, including Mendelian genetics, population genetics, and the genetics of microorganisms. The course consists of two hours of lecture, one hour discussion of journal readings, and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 222 Introductory Genetics.
4 credits
Prerequisite: "C" or higher in BIOL 112

BIOL 341 Cell and Molecular BiologyFocuses on the eukaryotic cell at the cell and molecular levels with emphasis on the principles by which cells function in isolation and in multi-cellular communities. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 325 Cell and Molecular Biology.
4 credits
Prerequisites: "C" or higher in BIOL 241 or permission of instructor

BIOL 441 General MicrobiologyIntroduces the biology of microorganisms and their importance to humans, with special emphasis on bacteria and viruses. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 449 General Microbiology.
4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 221, CHEM 222, and a 300-level biology course or permission of instructor

CHEM 111 Fundamentals of Chemistry IIntroduces some of the general principles of chemistry. Topics include stoichiometry and chemical reactions; the structure and properties of atoms and molecules; chemical bonding; thermochemistry; and acid base chemistry. This course emphasizes active student involvement; many concepts are introduced via direct experimentation. Computers are used extensively. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 123 (may be taken concurrently)
FLC Area IV

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

CHEM 112 Fundamentals of Chemistry IIContinues the study of basic chemical principles, focusing on thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 106 Fundamentals of Chemistry II.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 125 (may be taken concurrently), CHEM 111 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the program
General Education Knowledge and Inquiry

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

CHEM 221 Organic Chemistry IProvides students with a basic knowledge of organic chemistry through an exploration of the properties and reactions of carbon compounds, including structure and bonding, polarization, isomerism, stereochemistry, equilibrium, reaction types, and synthesis. Will ordinarily be taken with the laboratory (CHEM 223). Formerly CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 112 or permission of the instructor/chair

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

CHEM 222 Organic Chemistry IIApplies the concepts learned in Organic Chemistry I to new classes of compounds. The course includes a further investigation of substitution and elimination reactions, and the utility of infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance in determining organic structure is emphasized. Students learn about reactions and mechanisms pertaining to alkyl halides, aromatic compounds, alcohols, ethers, and a variety of carbonyl compounds. A working knowledge of the reactions covered in both semesters of will enable students to develop multistep syntheses leading from starting material to product. Will ordinarily be taken with the laboratory (CHEM 224). Formerly CHE 233 Organic Chemistry II.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 221 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the program

CJUS 101 Criminal LawThis course examines the substantive criminal law that defines criminal behavior. The general principles of criminal liability including defenses, parties to crime, and the elements of specific crimes are examined from a broad perspective. Decisions of English and American courts are analyzed to interpret the rules and doctrines of criminal law.
3 credits
Prerequisites: None

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

CJUS 309 EvidenceIn this course the students learn the definitions of evidence and proof and their relationship to each other. The roles of the prosecutor and defense counsel in trial proceedings will also be explored. Students study different types of evidence, such as real vs. testimonial, direct vs. circumstantial, and the rules regarding of hearsay and opinion testimony. Students also study the admissibility of evidence and constitutional concepts such as the exclusionary rule, search and seizure, confession, and discovery, and students learn to read and brief criminal case law.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CJUS 101

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.

NSCM 499 Divisional SeminarExamines selected topics in the natural sciences. Requires written and oral presentations based on reading and analysis of the current scientific literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)

Majors must earn a "C" (2.0) or better in this course.

PHYS 111 General Physics ICovers mechanics in a calculus-based course in fundamental physics. Topics include Newton's laws, work and energy, rotational dynamics, conservation of energy, and momentum. Intended primarily for students in math and science but open to all qualified students. The course consists of three hours of lecture, three of laboratory, and a one-hour problem session per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly PHY 115 General Physics I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 125
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV, Laboratory Science Cluster

PHYS 112 General Physics IICovers electricity, magnetism, and electro-magnetic propagation in a calculus-based course in fundamental physics. Topics include electric fields, Maxwell's equations, electrical circuits, magnetic fields, and light. Intended primarily for students in math and science but open to all qualified students. The course consists of three hours of lecture, three of laboratory, and a one-hour problem session per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly PHY 116 General Physics II.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 125 and PHYS 111

Elective Courses (5-8 credits)

BIOL 231 Vertebrate Development and AnatomyExamines the embryology and anatomy of representative vertebrate forms. The course requires two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 211 Vertebrate Development & Anatomy.
4 credits
Prerequisites: "C" or higher in BIOL 111 and BIOL 112

CHEM 431 Molecular Biochemistry IExplores the molecular basis of biological processes, with special emphasis on the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids and the interplay between these important classes of macromolecules. Topics are introduced using the current scientific literature in areas such as HIV and cancer. There is a lab fee for this course. Formerly CHE 411 Molecular Biochemistry I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: CHEM 222

MATH 210 Statistical InferenceApplies the principles of inference to the social sciences. Topics include confidence intervals, inference for distributions, one and two-sample t-test, z-test, F-test, chi-square test, linear regression analysis and comparing two proportions. Use of statistical software is an integral part of the course. Formerly MAT 210 Statistical Inference.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 110 with a grade of "C" or better
FLC Area IV: Exploration Cluster

PSYC 323 Forensic PsychologyIntroduces students to psychological issues in the area of criminal justice, including the topics of juvenile delinquency, mental illness and criminal responsibility, and rehabilitation of offenders. Psychological theories and research on the causes of criminal behavior and the role of the psychologist in the criminal justice system are presented. Formerly PSY 333 and PSYC 323 Criminal and Forensic Psychology.
3 credits
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and 3 additional Psychology credits at the 200 level

Pre-requisite courses: PSYC 101 and a 200-level PSYC course

Program Policies

Grades in Major Courses: Students are required to have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in all courses counted to fulfill the requirements for the major.

Pass/No Pass:Courses fulfilling the major requirement may not be taken pass/no pass.

Senior Assessment:The senior assessment consists of a written paper and oral presentation, normally in conjunction with NSCM499. Students are required to earn a grade of “C” (2.0) or better in NSCM 499.

Pre- and Co-Requisites: Majors must work closely with their advisors to make sure that they meet any and all pre- and co-requisite requirements, particularly around mathematics courses that are required for various science courses.

TELL Policy: TELL credits do not count towards the major in Forensic Science.

Transfer Credits: Transfer credit will be awarded after appropriate program review and approval.

Course Descriptions

BIOL 111 General Biology IPresents a comprehensive base in biology, intended for majors, and is the first of a two-course sequence. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 151 General Biology I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 102 (It is strongly suggested that MATH 123 is taken as a co-requisite if it has not already been taken)
FLC Area IV
General Education Requirements: Knowledge and InquiryBIOL 112 General Biology IIPresents a comprehensive base in biology for majors and non-science majors and is the second of a two-semester sequence. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 152 General Biology II.
4 credits
Prerequisite: "C" or higher in BIOL 111
FLC Area IV
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and InquiryBIOL 220 Introductory Forensic ScienceThis course consists of 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory per week. This course would serve as an elective for biology, chemistry, and criminal justice majors.

Through reading, writing, discussions, and case-studies, students will explore scientific principles of Forensic Science and methods of investigation . Students will be introduced to the many specialties within forensic science and methods for collecting and recording evidence at a crime scenes. Scientific principles based in chemistry and biology will be incorporated into discussions of techniques used for analyzing crime scene evidence. Students will be introduced to technologies for analyzing crime scene evidence such as separating and identifying compounds, microscopy, fingerprinting, document analysis, pathology, anthropology, odontology, entomology, serology, DNA analysis, toxicology, and soil and fiber analysis. Students will also explore ethical and legal considerations in forensic science. The laboratory component of the course will give students hands on-experience using scientific technologies to analyze data and solve problems.
4 credits
Prerequisites: Introductory Chemistry or Biology course such as BIOL 111, Chem 111, BIOL 101, or Chem 101, or an equivalent introductory science course with permission by instructorBIOL 231 Vertebrate Development and AnatomyExamines the embryology and anatomy of representative vertebrate forms. The course requires two hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory each week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 211 Vertebrate Development & Anatomy.
4 credits
Prerequisites: "C" or higher in BIOL 111 and BIOL 112BIOL 241 Introductory GeneticsInvestigates the principles of heredity, including Mendelian genetics, population genetics, and the genetics of microorganisms. The course consists of two hours of lecture, one hour discussion of journal readings, and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 222 Introductory Genetics.
4 credits
Prerequisite: "C" or higher in BIOL 112BIOL 341 Cell and Molecular BiologyFocuses on the eukaryotic cell at the cell and molecular levels with emphasis on the principles by which cells function in isolation and in multi-cellular communities. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 325 Cell and Molecular Biology.
4 credits
Prerequisites: "C" or higher in BIOL 241 or permission of instructorBIOL 441 General MicrobiologyIntroduces the biology of microorganisms and their importance to humans, with special emphasis on bacteria and viruses. The course consists of three hours of lecture and three hours of laboratory per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly BIO 449 General Microbiology.
4 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 221, CHEM 222, and a 300-level biology course or permission of instructorCHEM 111 Fundamentals of Chemistry IIntroduces some of the general principles of chemistry. Topics include stoichiometry and chemical reactions; the structure and properties of atoms and molecules; chemical bonding; thermochemistry; and acid base chemistry. This course emphasizes active student involvement; many concepts are introduced via direct experimentation. Computers are used extensively. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 105 Fundamentals of Chemistry I.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 123 (may be taken concurrently)
FLC Area IV CHEM 112 Fundamentals of Chemistry IIContinues the study of basic chemical principles, focusing on thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 106 Fundamentals of Chemistry II.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 125 (may be taken concurrently), CHEM 111 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the program
General Education Knowledge and InquiryCHEM 221 Organic Chemistry IProvides students with a basic knowledge of organic chemistry through an exploration of the properties and reactions of carbon compounds, including structure and bonding, polarization, isomerism, stereochemistry, equilibrium, reaction types, and synthesis. Will ordinarily be taken with the laboratory (CHEM 223). Formerly CHE 231 Organic Chemistry I.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 112 or permission of the instructor/chairCHEM 222 Organic Chemistry IIApplies the concepts learned in Organic Chemistry I to new classes of compounds. The course includes a further investigation of substitution and elimination reactions, and the utility of infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance in determining organic structure is emphasized. Students learn about reactions and mechanisms pertaining to alkyl halides, aromatic compounds, alcohols, ethers, and a variety of carbonyl compounds. A working knowledge of the reactions covered in both semesters of will enable students to develop multistep syntheses leading from starting material to product. Will ordinarily be taken with the laboratory (CHEM 224). Formerly CHE 233 Organic Chemistry II.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 221 with a grade of C or better, or permission of the programCHEM 223 Organic Chemistry Laboratory IProvides the laboratory component of CHEM 221. This laboratory experience illustrates modern techniques of purification, identification, and synthesis of organic compounds and the application to structural and synthetic problems. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 233 Organic Chemistry Lab I(formerly 2 credits).
1 credits
Prerequisites: Concurrent registration with CHEM 221 or permission of instructorCHEM 224 Organic Chemistry Laboratory IIProvides the laboratory component of CHEM 222. This laboratory experience illustrates modern techniques of purification, identification, and synthesis of organic compounds and the application to structural and synthetic problems. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly CHE 234 Organic Chemistry Lab II(formerly 2 credits).
1 credit
Prerequisites: Concurrent registration with CHEM 222 or permission of instructorCHEM 350 Forensic Instrumental AnalysisIntroduces the principles and applications of instrumental methods of chemical analysis including spectroscopy (UV-VIS, IR, NMR, MS), electrochemistry and chromatography. Formerly CHEM 350 Instrumental Analysis.
3 creditsCHEM 351 Forensic Instrumental Analysis LabIntroduces the experimental applications of instrumental methods of chemical analysis including spectroscopy (UV-VIS, IR, NMR, MS), electrochemistry, and chromatography. Formerly CHEM 351 Instrumental Analysis Lab.
1 creditCHEM 431 Molecular Biochemistry IExplores the molecular basis of biological processes, with special emphasis on the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids and the interplay between these important classes of macromolecules. Topics are introduced using the current scientific literature in areas such as HIV and cancer. There is a lab fee for this course. Formerly CHE 411 Molecular Biochemistry I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: CHEM 222CHEM 432 Molecular Biochemistry IIContinues the study of biochemistry, including reaction mechanisms, metabolic pathways and energetics. The course concludes with an examination of related topics of current interest. Formerly CHE 412 Molecular Biochemistry II.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CHEM 431 or permission of instructorCJUS 101 Criminal LawThis course examines the substantive criminal law that defines criminal behavior. The general principles of criminal liability including defenses, parties to crime, and the elements of specific crimes are examined from a broad perspective. Decisions of English and American courts are analyzed to interpret the rules and doctrines of criminal law.
3 credits
Prerequisites: NoneCJUS 309 EvidenceIn this course the students learn the definitions of evidence and proof and their relationship to each other. The roles of the prosecutor and defense counsel in trial proceedings will also be explored. Students study different types of evidence, such as real vs. testimonial, direct vs. circumstantial, and the rules regarding of hearsay and opinion testimony. Students also study the admissibility of evidence and constitutional concepts such as the exclusionary rule, search and seizure, confession, and discovery, and students learn to read and brief criminal case law.
3 credits
Prerequisites: CJUS 101MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.MATH 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry IExamines the following topics: functions, limits, continuity, differentiation and applications, and basic integration. Formerly MAT 125 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 123 or placement test proficiency
General Education: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV: Exploration ClusterMATH 210 Statistical InferenceApplies the principles of inference to the social sciences. Topics include confidence intervals, inference for distributions, one and two-sample t-test, z-test, F-test, chi-square test, linear regression analysis and comparing two proportions. Use of statistical software is an integral part of the course. Formerly MAT 210 Statistical Inference.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 110 with a grade of "C" or better
FLC Area IV: Exploration ClusterNSCM 499 Divisional SeminarExamines selected topics in the natural sciences. Requires written and oral presentations based on reading and analysis of the current scientific literature.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Applications (Leadership)PHYS 111 General Physics ICovers mechanics in a calculus-based course in fundamental physics. Topics include Newton's laws, work and energy, rotational dynamics, conservation of energy, and momentum. Intended primarily for students in math and science but open to all qualified students. The course consists of three hours of lecture, three of laboratory, and a one-hour problem session per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly PHY 115 General Physics I.
4 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 125
General Education Requirement: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area IV, Laboratory Science ClusterPHYS 112 General Physics IICovers electricity, magnetism, and electro-magnetic propagation in a calculus-based course in fundamental physics. Topics include electric fields, Maxwell's equations, electrical circuits, magnetic fields, and light. Intended primarily for students in math and science but open to all qualified students. The course consists of three hours of lecture, three of laboratory, and a one-hour problem session per week. There is an additional laboratory fee for this course. Formerly PHY 116 General Physics II.
4 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 125 and PHYS 111PSYC 323 Forensic PsychologyIntroduces students to psychological issues in the area of criminal justice, including the topics of juvenile delinquency, mental illness and criminal responsibility, and rehabilitation of offenders. Psychological theories and research on the causes of criminal behavior and the role of the psychologist in the criminal justice system are presented. Formerly PSY 333 and PSYC 323 Criminal and Forensic Psychology.
3 credits
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 and 3 additional Psychology credits at the 200 level

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